Being a sole trader has plenty of perks. For starters, there's no boss to answer to and no unpredictable employees to manage.

But despite the freedom that working as a lone ranger seems to offer, there's also one major problem: how do you take a holiday if you're the person responsible for every facet of the business?

So we asked more than 25 solo operators across a variety of sectors how they manage to take a break – if at all.

Naomi Waring says holidays are a must.

Jill Chivers has been in business since 2000, and runs an online membership program for “women who shop too much”, shopyourwardrobe.com. She's also a corporate facilitator, trainer and coach, and travels often.

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She chooses to switch her phone to global roaming, rather than using a virtual assistant or personal assistant while away.

“The most a PA or VA can do is communicate your unavailability and perhaps manage your diary when you return – they can't actually run the business for you,” notes Chivers.

Her shopping business is entirely online so it is easy to manage from anywhere. In her corporate business, Chivers gives her number to clients while she's away, believing that the cost of global roaming is cheaper than using a virtual assistant. But she strongly encourages them to use email.

“I don't end up taking calls at 3am because I inform clients of my holiday plans in advance and let them know that email is the best way to reach me if anything is urgent,” she says.

“If you love what you do, and I do, then checking your emails once or twice a week while you're away isn't a big problem.”

Joe Hughes runs his own public relations company, NOW! Communications. He's taken two holidays in the past three years and says he has found a simple formula which always seems to work.

Hughes employs freelancers to take on specific clients, so they have a person to contact in Australia during working hours.

“I always ensure media releases are written beforehand, so my freelancer just has to send it out and they are completely across any tactical material which needs to be executed,” he says.

“I have found that my phone can never be off though, when abroad, because the client is ultimately my responsibility and when they have an issue with something, they want to talk to me.”

Hughes says if you can find a freelancer you trust absolutely, it's possible to have a proper break.

For others, taking a much-needed holiday is virtually impossible, or an uphill battle at best.

One respondent had this to say: “If you want a genuine break you need to join a company and be on wages or salary.”

Another, Mark Robinson, who owns coastal accommodation business Annesley House, says “the only way I get a break is to rope my kids into looking after it”.

Retailer Janelle Frohloff, who runs the shop Somethings Country and also sells online, is this month taking her first ever “no work at all holiday” – a single Saturday off.

“I have been operating for eight-and-a-half years and I normally take a break over Christmas/New Year's by closing my shop. But I still answer emails and send out invoices and do ordering on my holidays,” she says.

By Christmas Day, after working 40 days in a row, she's usually exhausted.

She recently hired a casual for the first time, who will manage the business while Frohloff enjoys a seven-day cruise to celebrate her 40th birthday.

“I have decided that I am not taking a phone or laptop or any devices which will enable me to be contacted, making my new staff member work it out for herself,” she says.

But as the casual staff member needs a lunch break, Frohloff has organised her best friend to come in daily for a short period.

“A lot of juggling, training and costs involved just to take a week off, so I will be sure to make the most of it,” she says.

Naomi Waring, who runs a marketing, bookkeeping and web design company called Paperwork Pixies, believes it's crucial to take time out, especially when you work long hours.

“If I'm taking a sneaky few days away I most often don't tell clients,” she says. “I can respond to emails and inquiries without them knowing I'm in a different state”.

If Waring is heading away for a longer period, she gives her clients advance notice and prepares them for the “separation anxiety” as much as possible.

“Generally I think it's hard to switch off [but] if I didn't enjoy what I do I wouldn't be in business,” she says.

11 comments

Sole traders do have a boss to answer to - themselves (who should be a harder task master than anyone else) and their customers. They also can have employees - unpredictable or otherwise. Maybe you were thinking of a one person business ? But that is not the same as a sole trader...

Commenter

Solo

Location

NSW

Date and time

November 29, 2013, 3:23PM

Started as a one person business {under the guise of sole trader} then added staff as expansion required. Though I take your point. Four and a half years later, 2 full time and a half dozen casual staff, still haven't taken that elusive holiday. Not that I don't trust them to handle the responsibility, I don't feel the need to sit on a beach just yet. Suppose it's the difference between being employed and going to work. If you love what you do it isn't work, more of a paid hobby.

Commenter

mutt

Date and time

December 02, 2013, 7:12AM

Sole Trader - "If you are planning to operate your business alone (without any partners, including your spouse), then a sole trader structure may be right for you."http://www.business.qld.gov.au/business/starting/business-startup-options/business-legal-structures/sole-trader-structure

Commenter

ancatdubh

Date and time

December 02, 2013, 11:45AM

Solo is correct; sole trader is generally referring to the legal structure of the business rather than the number of employees. A sole trader could be a business which hires zero staff or ten and still be considered a sole trader.

Commenter

jmccar15

Date and time

December 02, 2013, 9:12PM

I find the biggest block to taking a break as a sole trader, as implied in the article, is convincing yourself that you need or deserve a break enough that you can go on one. I was working from when I got up to when I went to bed because I do love my job, but when my friends started buying me things to get me away from the desk I realised I was going to burn out if I didn't start taking a bit of time off. I tend to let all my existing and potential clients know well in advance so they can plan their own schedules and deadlines, just like if I was an employee and was taking annual leave.

Commenter

artsy

Date and time

December 02, 2013, 8:28AM

Everyday was a holiday for me when Iwas a sole trader,working when I liked , picking my clientèle and enjoying all the perks ,just for me!Holidays were only on the menu if paid for by others.and then involved extra work opportunities away as well.

Commenter

Kane

Date and time

December 02, 2013, 10:42AM

“The most a PA or VA can do is communicate your unavailability and perhaps manage your diary when you return – they can't actually run the business for you,” notes Chivers.

Obviously Chivers isn't aware as to how much a PA role has evolved since the dark ages. As one myself, an exceptional and competent PA or EA is literally your right hand person, capable of what you are.

Commenter

PA

Location

SYdney

Date and time

December 02, 2013, 11:42AM

If a sole trader cannot organise their own time-off, how can they organise their business???

Commenter

Organised

Location

Sydney

Date and time

December 02, 2013, 1:16PM

Interesting your article focuses on jobs that require little to no "hands-on" client work (web-based services or retail). What happens when you ARE the work? I'm a solo-practising dentist; without me present there is simply no work-generated income. I can't leave it to "staff" to handle patients, nor can I adequately employ a substitute who a) is available for short-term locum work and b) who won't wreck the goodwill of the practice. I imaging many tradespeople, and others in the sevice industries, are in the same boat.

The only way it works for me is to work an 11-month year: ie - al income and cashflows have to be catered for within 11 months, not 12. Of course it doesn't allow for all those emergencies and work that people simply cannot wait for......you just have to resign yourself that you will lose those clients.

Commenter

dW

Date and time

December 02, 2013, 2:40PM

I close my business for a month every year. Everybody knows August is my holiday month. It is winter here, my quiet time as a tour operator. People understand. You need to step away and clear the head. As others have suggested, checking emails isn't a drag a couple of times a week whilst away.